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The Student's Association of the First Nations University of Canada
have announced that they are calling for a Live-In at the First Nations
University of Canada campus. Students, staff and faculty at the Regina
and the Prince Albert campuses will move in to the First Nations
University of Canada (FNUIC) commencing the afternoon of March 23,
2010. The announcement was made during a rally held March 22, 2010 on
the steps of the Saskatchewan Legislatative Building.
The Student Association and their supporters insist that the federal
government restore the $7 million in annual funding that it contributes
to the institution, and they are also calling for the provincial
government to restore its $5 million in annual funding. Both levels of
government have stated that FNUIC university funding, which runs out
March 31 2010, will not be restored due to concerns with past
governance and financial management of the university. Incredibly,
while the Saskatchewan Minister for Education, Rob Norris, was
attending a summit in Saskatoon on March 22 titled "Strengthening
Capacity and Creating Opportunity: A Summit on the Future of Aboriginal
Post-Secondary Education in Saskatchewan"; a discussion of FNUIC was
absent from the summit's agenda. Evidentially crown Ministers like Rob
Norris and Chuck Strahl, the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development, are unable to connect the dots on this one.
The Speakers at the rally noted that the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations has established a First Nations University of Canada's
Transitional Board of Governors that will work in partnership with the
University of Regina (UofR) within a shared management model to address
governance concerns. This step goes beyond any that have been called
for in the numerous reviews that have been completed on the Governance
structure of FNUIC. Further, speaker after speaker compared the
relatively small amounts of money that is suspected of being mismanaged
at FNUIC to the financial management of the current conservative
governments of Saskatchewan and Canada which have both inherited budget
surpluses when assuming power and have, in a short period of time,
turned these into multi-billion dollar deficits.
In essence, while the issues of FNUIC governance are being worked
on, the existence of this educational institution for post-secondary
students is being ripped away. FNUIC sits upon Treaty Four land, and
although it is available to all students the university needs to be
viewed within the lens of Treaties. As partners to the Treaties, the
provincial and federal governments have a duty to consult with Treaty
peoples on issues pertaining to Treaty terms. The terms of the Numbered
Treaties are the obligations to be paid for the prize; the sharing of
land title with the settlers. Education is one of the terms under the
existing numbered Treaties. Look it up in the Treaties under the
heading of Schools.
Post secondary education for all Aboriginal peoples of Canada is
considered by many to be the new buffalo. As members of settler society
and as Treaty partners, we must honour our agreements. Once this unique
university is gone, like the buffalo it is very doubtful it will ever
return.
The FNUIC Student Association is calling for money, food, tipis,
camping supplies, letters of support as well as workshops and
entertainment while they occupy what they call "their second home." You
can reach the association in Saskatchewan at (306) 790-5950 ext. 3015.
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